RECALL OF RANCHER'S BEEF PRODUCTS
Related alerts: 2007-10-26 | 2007-10-27 | 2007-11-02 | 2007-11-03 |
2007-11-06 |
2007-11-13
OTTAWA, November 2, 2007 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and
Rancher's Beef Ltd. of Balzac, Alta. (Est # 630) are
recalling beef products described below from its corporate clients. This action
is a result of the CFIA's ongoing
investigation into the detection of E. coli O157:H7 linked to an illness
outbreak in the US this summer. These
products are being recalled as a precautionary measure to protect public health
while the investigation at this facility continues.
Rancher's Beef Ltd. is recalling all beef
products produced at Rancher's facility (Est #630) from June 8 to August 15, 2007
inclusive. The affected products were distributed directly to its corporate
clients in Canada, which include distributors, processors and a small number of
retail establishments. All affected clients are being advised not to process or
distribute any remaining product and remove any affected processed raw product
from the marketplace. The CFIA is also advising all
processors and distributors who have received the affected Rancher's
product to notify their local CFIA office.
The Rancher's plant is currently under receivership and no longer
operating. Remaining product in Rancher's warehouse is under CFIA detention. The CFIA will continue to provide
consumers with information as its investigation progresses.
The CFIA is also
investigating an outbreak of E. coli illnesses this summer in Canada
related to the same unique E.
coli pattern found in the US.
To date, no link has been confirmed between illnesses in Canada and product
from the Rancher's plant.
The CFIA
continues to work closely with the USDA and its other
counterparts in other jurisdictions and is taking all the necessary steps to
protect the public. The Government remains vigilant and committed to
maintaining and improving Canada's food safety system by ensuring national
and international industry standards are upheld.
Canadians are reminded that a number of simple steps should be taken when
cooking with ground beef to reduce the likelihood of E. coli contamination and
cross-contamination. Thoroughly cooking the meat and using safe handling
practices can reduce the risk of illness. For more information, please
refer to the following fact sheet:
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/concen/cause/ecolie.shtml.
For more information, consumers can call CFIA at 1-800-442-2342 /
TTY 1-800-465-7735 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday). To receive
information on food recalls or allergy alert notices by e-mail, or for other
food safety facts, visit the CFIA web site at
www.inspection.gc.ca/recalls.
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CFIA Media
Relations
613-228-6682
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